The magical girl anime genre has been around for decades, with dozens of beloved titles that have helped shape anime over the years. Some of the most iconic series of all time comes from the genre, only emphasizing its appeal with audiences from all around. However, not all magical girl anime have seen this success. In fact, plenty of series completely bombed upon their release.
Though titles are technically failures, many have gone on to be appreciated by fans years later. They’ve found their place within a small fandom, and some have gotten more popular now than ever. They may not have the fame of greats like Sailor Moon or Madoka Magica, but these magical girl titles have become famous in their own way as cult classics.
10 Nurse Witch Komugi Became Popular Enough For A Remake
Nurse Witch Komugi is a magical girl series that's gone under the radar for most fans. It's a spin-off of another lesser-known series called The SoulTaker and acts as a parody of the typical magical girls of the time.
Given the grim premise of this horror series, most SoulTaker fans were thrown for a loop by Nurse Witch Komugi, and many hated it right off the bat. However, the series has managed to find popularity within a niche community of magical girl fans who have kept it alive throughout the years. Since then, Komugi has even had a remake, giving long-time fans some much-needed content after all this time.
9 Powerpuff Girls Z Saw A Lot Of Backlash At First
During the 2000s, the hit cartoon series The Powerpuff Girls was at its peak. As a result, a Japanese anime version was set to release, and many fans were hyped for it. However, Powerpuff Girls Z saw immediate backlash for the many changes it made to the original story and characters.
With so much hate, it failed to take off and faded into obscurity. However, many look back on this series fondly, and it's gotten much more positive reviews in recent years. Though it will never see the success of other magical girls, PPG Z has found its place among the underrated classics.
8 Magical Project S Is Cheesy & Cliché, But Some Fans Still Like It
During the '90s, magical girls were bigger than ever, and everyone wanted in on their success. As a result, many series were making magical girl spin-offs to cash in on the craze. Magical Project S is a by-product of this trend, acting as a spin-off parody series of Tenchi Muyo, complete with flanderized characters and annoying cliché plotlines.
Most fans couldn't stand Magical Project S, seeing it as the needless cash-grab it was. However, not everyone hated this parody, and many still appreciate it for what it is. Fans of the series acknowledge its cheesiness and everything wrong with it, but that's exactly why they like it.
7 Prétear Is An Underrated Gem Of The 2000s
Magical girl anime were still going strong during the 2000s, riding on the wild success of their 90s predecessors. Many beloved titles came out at this time, but just as many got overlooked.
Prétear is one of the many underrated gems of 2000s magical girls, and to this day, many fans haven't even heard of it. Though it never reached the heights of the iconic titles of the decade, this unique magical girl series has maintained a loyal fanbase throughout the years.
6 Magic Knight Rayearth Has That Retro Aesthetic Fans Love
Out of CLAMP's many works, Magic Knight Rayearth is often one of the most overlooked. Coming out during the height of magical girls' popularity, the series had some pretty fierce competition. As a result, Magic Knight Rayearth never reached the popularity it so deserved. However, nowadays, it's seen more recognition than it has in a while.
With old-school anime seeing a significant rise in popularity, this 90s classic has finally gotten its time to shine, thanks to its appealing retro style. On top of that, Magic Knight Rayearth has drawn in the isekai crowd with its combined genres that make it unique to other magical girls.
5 Kamichama Karin Gained More Fame After A Meme Took Off
Despite its cute style and unique premise, Kamichama Karin had little success with magical girl fans. This is mostly due to the infamously poor animation that most couldn't look past. However, thanks to a popular meme poking fun at its style, Kamichama Karin has gotten a bit more recognition in recent years.
Since then, magical girl fans have come to realize that there's more to this forgotten series than its memes. Kamichama Karin is actually a very cute story with an interesting take on the magical girl genre, and many now believe it's criminally underrated.
4 Princess Tutu's Unique Fairytale Story Appeals To Many Modern Fans
Princess Tutu is another 2000s magical girl series that got overlooked back in the day. Many took one look at this girly series about ballet and tutus and passed it up. However, some fans have seen there's much more to this story than meets the eye.
Princess Tutu is a unique series and a beautiful twist on fairytales and magical girls combined. Though it never reached the heights of other titles at the time, many have come to love the series for its creative, whimsical, and surprisingly dark storyline that appeals to modern sensibilities in a lot of ways.
3 Sugar Sugar Rune's Fandom Is Small But Loyal
To this day, Sugar Sugar Rune has gone widely unnoticed by mainstream anime fans. However, a select few remember this cute and wholesome series, holding it near and dear to their hearts. It's yet another 2000s series that got lost in the seemingly endless sea of magical girl titles out at the time.
For fans of Sugar Sugar Rune, it's one of the best series in the genre and easily deserves more love. Its unique style and two lovable protagonists add a certain charm and appeal that Sugar Sugar Rune fans have recognized from the start.
2 Saint Tail Is A Forgotten Classic Old School Fans Love
The '90s was one of the best decades for magical girls. Many iconic and influential favorites came out at this time, changing the anime landscape from then on. However, as so many incredible series released, many other magical girl anime went unnoticed for years to come.
One underrated '90s classic most fans have forgotten is Mysterious Thief Saint Tail. It follows the typical "phantom thief" model, making for a classic and timeless series that fits right in with the best of the genre. While most anime fans have long since forgotten this retro magical girl, it remains a popular favorite for fans of old-school series.
1 Wedding Peach Fans Know It's More Than Just A Sailor Moon Knock-Off
Like many other magical girls of the '90s, Wedding Peach had a lot of impossible competition. As a result, this classic magical girl series saw little to no success.
Many often compared Wedding Peach to the more popular Sailor Moon, writing it off as a cheap, corny imitation. However, a small group of loyal fans knew that the series was much more than that. Nowadays, Wedding Peach is loved and embraced for its cheesiness and cliché premise. It's nothing special compared to other titles, but fans enjoy it for what it is.